| Notes |
- Donna Anna Vaughan, 99, died June 19, 2009, at Brewster Village in Appleton, Wis. She was born to Charles Herrmann and Alvina Puls in Appleton, on March 31, 1910, and was the oldest of five children. A 1927 graduate of Appleton High School, Donna was probably the last surviving member of that class. While in high school, she performed in musicals and later on in a variety of local musical productions. For most of her life, she was a member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, where her father was president of the board when the cornerstone was laid in 1920.
She worked at Pettibone-Peabody, an Appleton department store, in the late 1920s, both as an elevator operator and in the bookkeeping department. For many years in the late 1950's and 1960's, she worked with the Ladies Auxiliary in what is now Appleton Medical Center.
She married Thomas L. Vaughan on June 23, 1931, in Appleton. As a Depression-era bride, she developed a frugal lifestyle, which continued throughout her life. After Tom retired, they traveled much of the central and southeastern United States. They enjoyed nearly 55 years of marriage until Tom's death in 1986. Being shy and always late as a youngster, she appreciated how he showed her how to meet people and to be punctual.
Donna lived her entire life in Appleton, except for a few months in Waupaca and Durand early in her marriage and about 4-1/2 years in Fond du Lac, in the late 1930s and early 1940s. While in that city, she was a member of the Fond du Lac Players and worked at the T.E. Ahern Company. She loved to sing, startling her mother when, as a toddler, she remembered all the words and pitches of "Down by the Old Mill Stream." After high school, she studied at the Lawrence Conservatory of Music. Possessing a powerful voice, she was offered a singing job in New York City, but her mother's illness required her to stay at home and care for her younger siblings. She especially enjoyed music from the 1930s and 1940s and Dixieland jazz. Donna became an avid Green Bay Packers fan in the 1920s. She had season tickets from 1939 through 1992, when she decided watching the games on TV was less hassle. She and son, Tommy, often spoke about the team for hours each day during the season. She attended the "Ice Bowl" in 1967. She also enjoyed working daily crossword puzzles, playing cards, reading newspapers, eating vanilla ice cream and strawberry shortcake, and spending time with her sons, grandchildren and extended family members. As she got older, although she enjoyed life, she frequently wondered aloud what good she was to anyone. Her sons, grandchildren and other relatives said she was their "entertainment" as she was frequently the life of the party at family gatherings due to her strong opinions about almost everything. She often said she had to be strong to live in a family of three men.
While a good cook and seamstress, she saw those things as just tasks that needed to be done, preferring to read and talk about football, politics and economics. She said had she been born today, she would have sought a job in business. Themes she often repeated were "These are the good old days" and "Do it while you can; don't wait too long." In 1990, at the age of 80, Donna traveled with her son, Art, and daughter-in-law, Gloria, to Germany and Austria. The following year they visited Mecklenburg in the former East Germany and Lower Silesia, now in Poland, to see her ancestors' villages. She declared those lands to be "just like Wisconsin," but wondered aloud, "What's wrong with these people that they don't give free refills on coffee?" From 1993 to 2007, she spent two weeks every summer with son Art and family at their cottage in Three Lakes. While there, she often remarked about how it reminded her of her days at her family's cottage on Lake Winnebago when she was a girl.
Donna lived independently in the home she and husband, Tom, purchased in 1945 and completely renovated. Donna even upholstered some of the furniture. After Tom's death, Tommy mowed her lawn, cleared her sidewalks and driveway of snow and ice and, after she decided to quit driving in 2006, took her on weekly shopping trips.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Tom; and siblings, Arline Luebben and Charles "Pete," Ione and Arthur Herrmann.
Survivors include son, Thomas C. Vaughan, Appleton; son, Arthur R. Vaughan and daughter-in-law, Gloria B. Freeland, Manhattan, Kan.; grandchildren, Karen E. Ethridge, Kansas City, Mo.; Matthew A. Vaughan, Grandview, Mo.; and Mariya B. and Katherine J. Vaughan, Manhattan, Kan; great-grandchildren, Cameron Martinez and Jeremiah, Joshua and Katrina Ethridge; great-great-grandchildren, Avery and Conner Martinez; sisters-in-law, Betty Herrmann and Sue Herrmann; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Whenever she faced a problem, Donna collected information, made a decision and stuck with it, never looking back. At 53, not liking how the smoke yellowed the cabinets in her kitchen, she gave up cigarettes without once complaining and never understood why others couldn't do the same. She was equally matter-of-fact about all of life, not dwelling on the inevitable losses. When faced with the death of a loved one, she'd be melancholy for a time and then abruptly mark the end of that period with, "Well, that's it!" After suffering a stroke in January of this year, she moved to Brewster Village. Told she would probably make a good recovery, her usual optimistic outlook and feisty nature quickly took over and she looked forward to moving back into her home. She was doing well when struck with a second affliction. After being told she would probably not recover, despite being seemingly strong, she died the next day, as if saying, "Well, that's it!"
A family memorial service and inurnment are planned for a later date. Wichmann Funeral Home in Appleton, is helping with arrangements.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Appleton Medical Center and Brewster Village for their kind, compassionate care of our dear Donna.
Wichmann Funeral Home
537 N. Superior Street
Appleton 920-739-1231
Online Condolences:
www.wichmannfargo.com
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1910 - 2009 (99 years)
